13 best color pencils

Pencils and pencils are different: for children, schoolchildren and professional artists, these are completely different tools, distinguished by the quality of the stroke, the intensity of the pigment, the ability to shade, etc. For example, products for young children mostly have a triangular shape for learning how to properly grip and have a soft lead, pencils with different stiffness and an expanded palette are provided for schoolchildren, for professionals there is a rich tint gamut in the set and different textures of the stylus, preferably soft.

The EXPERTOLOGY expert team found out which manufacturers offer the best pencils for different tasks and made a rating, which we strongly recommend to read: you will definitely make the right choice and will not be disappointed in it.

Top color pencils rating

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The best colored pencils for kids	1	Jovi maxi	197 ₽
	2	Stabilo trio	484 ₽
	3	Crayola jumbo	450 ₽
	4	Crayola mini kids	450 ₽
The best colored pencils for schoolchildren	1	Koh-i-noor mondeluz	279 ₽
	2	Crayola twistables	477 ₽
	3	Kores "Kolores Duo"	286 ₽
	4	Faber-castell eco	990 ₽
	5	Maped Duo Color Peps	528 ₽
The best colored pencils for professionals	1	A set of art colored pencils Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor 72 pcs.	6 250 ₽
	2	Watercolor pencils ALBRECHT DURER 60 pcs.	8 854 ₽
	3	A set of colored pencils Faber-Castell Goldfaber 48 colors	3 191 ₽
	4	Derwent Coloursoft set 72 colors	13 551 ₽

The best colored pencils for kids

For children of preschool age, it is important that the colors are bright and well distinguishable, the stroke goes smoothly and without much effort, and the shape is convenient for obtaining the skills of holding a pinch (finger position). The sets usually have 12 or more primary color pencils. As a rule, the thickened lead is made of safe materials and pigments, which are not dangerous if they are taken into the mouth, and its rim is made of wood or plastic, covered with an appropriate color. Experts recommend choosing thickened triangular pencils - it is difficult to break them when pressed hard, and it is much more convenient to keep them grown-up.

Jovi maxi

Rating: 4.9

The first in the rating of Jovi Maxi meet all the requirements of the category for kids: they are thickened up to 1 cm in a triangular section, their stylus is soft and saturated with bright, absolutely safe. Products are certified and comply with European standards, despite the Chinese origin. In a package of 12 pencils that contribute to the formation of the correct pinch (the position of fingers for writing), they are suitable for classes with young children from 1 year.

A distinctive feature of pencils is a durable pencil that does not break in a wooden case even when dropped from the table. It is also noteworthy: the strokes fall evenly, the colors, subject to the technique of shading, smoothly flow into each other and blend, blend.

The only disadvantage when using Jovi Maxi is the need for a sharpener for thickened pencils, as well as some dexterity. The cost of a set of 12 flowers - from 400 rubles.

Stabilo trio

Rating: 4.8

Stabilo Trio colored pencils are available in two versions: full-size, thickened and shortened for the smallest, although both models are suitable for use by kids from 1 year old. The set includes 12 or 18 pencils of different colors that leave bright lines 4 mm thick on paper (this is the diameter of the slate). The triangular shape of the rod, convenient for right-handers and left-handers, helps to master the correct grip with small fingers.

Stabilo Trio Stylus is made using natural wax, the strokes gently fall on the paper, the colors mix with each other.

The cost of the product with a thickened rod for a set of 18 pcs. starts from 600 rubles.

Crayola jumbo

Rating: 4.7

Crayola Jumbo colored pencils specially made for kids up to 3 years of age are distinguished by their mechanical strength and at the same time ease of drawing. The wood used allows sharpening without effort. There are usually 8 multicolored pencils in the set, but they can only be distinguished by the shade of the stem and the applied animal badge - there is no colored wood coating. The round section will force the kid and parents to work with the right grip.

The cost of a set of Crayola Jumbo from 329 rubles.

Crayola mini kids

Rating: 4.6

Crayola Mini Kids took the fourth place in our rating category with thick pencils with stylus of optimum strength and sufficient softness. Their wooden shell is not covered with color, you have to choose the desired shade, focusing on the stylus and color image of the animal. Strokes are bright, but not particularly thick. But the manufacturer has provided convenience for small fingers: the cross section of the pencil, though round, but non-skid, is firmly fixed in a pinch with a firm grip.

The cost of a set of 8 pieces of Crayola Mini Kids is about 324 rubles.

The best colored pencils for schoolchildren

For schoolchildren, the variety of colors in the pencil set is important, while it is necessary to correctly determine the softness of the slate: children during the lesson it is inconvenient to constantly sharpen pencils that break when they are pressed too hard. For primary and middle school students, experts recommend choosing an average slate pen.

Koh-i-noor mondeluz

Rating: 4.9

The most popular pencils for Koh-I-Noor Mondeluz schoolchildren can be bought in sets of 6, 12, 18, 24 and 32 pieces on demand. Their peculiarity is watercolor type soft stylus, that is, the drawing can be washed out with water and get the effect of paint. They are also good for putting separate lines on paper, underlines in notebooks.

The varnished cedar wood is embossed with gold, each pencil is painted in the color corresponding to the slate pencil. Koh-I-Noor Mondeluz is suitable for schoolchildren of elementary, middle and high school classes due to its versatility, ease of sharpening and bright colors.

You can buy Czech products in a set of 6 pieces from 124 rubles.

Crayola twistables

Rating: 4.8

In the second place ranking bright American pencils Crayola Twistables. They do not need sharpening - the lead is unscrewed, which is very convenient for children from 3 years.In addition, the remainder of the colored rod is visible through the plastic casing, and the convenience of grip does not suffer (unlike sharpening pencils, the length of which decreases after each turning).

The lack of sharpening causes the absence of a sharp tip of the stylus, so a thin line with Crayola Twistables will not work, they are more suitable for drawing than for use in workbooks. The rod does not break, it really lasts a long time.

Sets of twisting pencils are various: 12, 18, 24 and 30 pieces. A pack of 24 can be an average of 347 rubles.

Kores "Kolores Duo"

Rating: 4.7

The third place in the ranking was taken by Kores "Kolores Duo" pencils with a triangular cross section for easy gripping and stress relief from fingers during long drawing classes. The stylus is extra-soft, it does not scratch the paper, and the strokes are bright. Each pencil is two different colors on both sides, which saves space and maintains the convenience of holding the tool when sharpening. By the way, the manufacturer put a sharpener in each pack.

A set of 12 pieces (24 colors) can be bought on average for 250 rubles.

Faber-Castell ECO

Rating: 4.7

Faber-Castell pencils are the highest quality, triangular cross-section and soft stylus. The manufacturer completes large sets of pencils, with which you can get smooth tint transitions, which is especially convenient for young artists. Pictures can be washed out with water (watercolor slate), and strokes from fabrics are easily washed off.

On each pencil of the Grip series there is a special area for writing the name, and for the fingers a non-skid grip area with massage rubber pimples is created. In the Eco series, a complete set provides a sharpener, but there are no anti-slip checkers.

The stylus is reliably protected from breakage when it is dropped by a special bonding technology, the case of Californian cedar is varnished, the pencil is well sharpened with ordinary sharpeners.

The cost of the product Faber-Castell Eco is low - 201 rubles for 12 colors, and the Grip series for young artists is about 2349 rubles for 48 pieces.

Maped Duo Color Peps

Rating: 4.7

The Maped product closes the rating in the category of school supplies - double-sided pencils Duo Color Peps in sets of 12 and 18 pieces (24 and 36 colors, respectively). The case is triangular, so the children's hand will not get tired in the process of drawing, which is especially important for children from 3 years. Additional convenience provides a multi-layer varnish coating that prevents the sliding of fingers.

The cost of packing 24 Maped Duo Color Peps pencils is about 230 rubles.

The best colored pencils for professionals

For architects, designers and artists working with sketches, it is important that the lines are clear, the hatching is harmonious, the image does not fade. Professional kits often have a wide color palette with hues ranging from bright to subdued. To the stylus make demands of moderate softness, durability and convenience of sharpening to save working time.

A set of art colored pencils Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor 72 pcs.

Rating: 4.9

The most authoritative among graphic artists and artists are Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor pencils with a sleek, rounded body and a lacquered surface.Each color is numbered, so when the pencil is over, you can buy exactly the necessary shade or complete the set at your discretion.

Users have practically no complaints about the quality of the slate: the strokes are accurate, if necessary they are bleached, the color is bright and saturated. The set has active colors and pastel, pencils are packed in a protective case.

Set Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor 72 pcs. It will be useful to naturalists, landscape painters, portrait masters and just lovers of drawing in their free time. Its cost on average from 3,900 rubles is relatively low for such professional kits.

Watercolor pencils ALBRECHT DURER 60 pcs.

Rating: 4.8

Faber Castell's ALBRECHT DURER are high-pigmented, premium-quality watercolor pencils made in Germany. They are designed for specially artists - optimum softness of the rod allows you to get strokes of different nature (thickness and intensity) with a watercolor effect. In this case, after the first blur, the image is fixed and the paint does not re-soak again, the composition becomes waterproof.

The manufacturer used a special technology of double inserting the lead in a wooden case, which helps to preserve its integrity during transportation and in operation - the rod does not crumble, does not break, remains whole, therefore it is effectively consumed without taking a lot of time to sharpen.

In a set of 60 pencils of different shades, grouped by color. The kit is convenient to take with you anywhere and not be afraid for its safety in an ergonomic metal case. ALBRECHT DURER ranks second for a very high cost - 60 pieces will cost the artist from 7,900 rubles, although in quality they are similar to the leader of the Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor rating (only professionals are able to tell the difference, it’s rather a matter of taste).

A set of colored pencils Faber-Castell Goldfaber 48 colors

Rating: 4.8

Another product from Faber-Castell took third place in the ranking - these are colored pencils for Goldfaber professionals in a set of 48 pieces. Their specificity is a high level of lightfastness, color retention under lamps and the sun. In addition, the highly pigmented lead is thickened to 3.3 mm and prolongs the life of the pencil, and its softness (B) is optimal for applying different thickness of lines and mixing colors, achieving different visual effects.

Faber-Castell Goldfaber is recommended for use by novice artists and amateurs who are not ready to buy more expensive sets, but do not want to lose as a finished composition. The set will cost about 3,000 rubles.

Derwent Coloursoft set 72 colors

Rating: 4.7

Completing the ranking of professional pencils British set Derwent Coloursoft of 72 numbered colors. The leads with intense pigmented soft, so the pictures are colorful and realistic.

Derwent Coloursoft is suitable for drawing in different techniques from still lifes to detailed pictures, the finished images retain color in artificial and natural light conditions in the absence of heavy and dangerous components and acids in the lead. Velvety softness causes a relatively fast consumption of pencils, but it is optimal due to the used technology to preserve the integrity of the slate and convenient sharpening.

Set Derwent Coloursoft set 72 can be purchased from 6 000 rubles.

---

Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.